Blower attachment

ABSTRACT

A blower attachment ( 15 ) comprising a frame ( 16 ) having a connecting assembly ( 18 ) for releasably connecting to a blower ( 35 ), a housing ( 19 ) supported by the frame and enclosing a chamber ( 20 ), the housing having a top portion ( 21 ), a bottom portion ( 22 ) and side portions ( 23   a - d ), an inlet ( 24 ) to the chamber in the top portion of the housing, the inlet having a maximum inlet width ( 34 ), a conduit ( 25 ) adapted to extend between the inlet and a blower outlet port ( 36 ), multiple baffles ( 26   a - h ) in the chamber orientated vertically and extending from a first point ( 27   a - d ) below the inlet to a second point ( 28   a - d ) peripheral to the inlet, an outlet ( 29 ) from the chamber positioned below the inlet and having a maximum outlet width ( 73 ) greater than the maximum inlet width, an adjustment mechanism ( 30 ) adapted to adjust the height of the outlet relative to an underlying surface ( 38 ), the conduit, inlet, chamber, baffles and outlet adapted to direct flow ( 79 ) from the blower through the inlet into the chamber and out the outlet against the underlying surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/765,232, filed Feb. 3, 2006. The entire content ofsuch application is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of blowers used todisperse debris from lawns, golf greens and other surfaces and, moreparticularly, to a blower attachment for directing the flow of air froma turbine blower to a playing surface.

BACKGROUND ART

Debris blowers are well-known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat.No. 6,073,305 discloses a debris blower for use in dispersing andcollecting grass clipping, leaves and other debris from sidewalks,driveways, lawns, golf courses and other surfaces. Another example isthe Model KB or Hurricane PTO driven debris blower manufactured byBuffalo Turbine of 180 Zoar Valley Road, Springville N.Y. 14141. Suchblowers are know to use a rotating power-driven fan or turbine to createand output a fairly concentrated airflow within a given velocity range.

However, devices known in the prior art do not provide an attachmentthat can be detachably connected to the blower and that will direct theairflow from the blower so that it may be used to move a top dressingmaterial, such as sand, into aeration holes, thatch, artificial turf orother surfaces. Hence, it would be useful to provide an attachment to ablower that directs the flow of the air stream from the blower onto asurface.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions orsurfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes ofillustration and not by way of limitation, the present inventionprovides a blower attachment (15) comprising a frame (16) having aconnecting assembly (18) for releasably connecting to a blower (35), ahousing (19) supported by the frame and enclosing a chamber (20), thehousing having a top portion (21), a bottom portion (22) and sideportions (23 a-d), an inlet (24) to the chamber in the top portion ofthe housing, the inlet having a maximum inlet width (34), a conduit (25)adapted to extend between the inlet and a blower outlet port (36),multiple baffles (26 a-h) in the chamber orientated vertically andextending from a first point (27 a-d) below the inlet to a second point(28 a-d) peripheral to the inlet, an outlet (29) from the chamberpositioned below the inlet and having a maximum outlet width (73)greater than the maximum inlet width, an adjustment mechanism (30)adapted to adjust the height of the outlet relative to an underlyingsurface (38), the conduit, inlet, chamber, baffles and outlet adapted todirect flow (79) from the blower through the inlet into the chamber andout the outlet against the underlying surface. The attachment mayfurther comprise a containment skirt (31) extending below and around atleast a portion of the peripheral edge of the outlet. The containmentskirt may comprise flexible fibers adapted to brush the underlyingsurface.

Accordingly, the general object is to provide an attachment to a blowerthat directs airflow against a stretch of grass or artificial turf of agiven width.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that directsairflow so as to blow a top dressing material of sand or other particlesinto aeration holes in a grass surface.

Another object is to provide an attachment for a blower that may beadjusted in height so as to regulate the desired force of the airflowagainst the grass or artificial turf surface.

Another object is to provide an attachment for a blower which may bereleasably connected to the blower.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower which connects tothe outlet of the blower so as to allow for high velocity airflow.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that directsairflow from a generally circular inlet to a generally rectangularoutlet wider or longer than the circular inlet.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that directsairflow across a wide swath of a grass or artificial turf surface.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that directs alarge volume of airflow from the blower against a grass or artificialturf surface.

Another object is to provide an attachment for a blower that is adaptedto attach to and roll behind the blower.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that is adaptedto brush a grass or artificial turf surface near the contact point of adirected airflow to the surface.

Another object is to provide an attachment to a blower that may be usedto fill aeration holes in a golf green in a way that does not undulydamage the golf green.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from theforegoing and ongoing written specification, the drawings and theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the blower attachment connected to aconventional blower.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective and transparent view of the blowerattachment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective and transparent view of the blowerattachment shown in FIG. 2 with arrows indicating the directed airflowfrom the inlet through the chamber and the outlet of the blowerattachment.

FIG. 4 is partial vertical transverse sectional view of the blowerattachment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a left side enlarged view of the height adjustment mechanismshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a right side enlarged view of the height adjustment mechanismshown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like referencenumerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portionsor surfaces, consistently throughout the several drawing figures, assuch elements, portions or surfaces may be further described orexplained by the entire written specification, of which this detaileddescription is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, thedrawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement ofparts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, andare to be considered a portion of the entire written description of thisinvention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”,“vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival andadverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”,“upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustratedstructure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly,the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientationof a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, asappropriate.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,this invention provides a blower attachment, the presently preferredembodiment of which is generally indicated at 15. As shown in FIGS. 1and 2, attachment 15 generally includes a frame 16, a housing 19supported by frame 16 and defining a chamber 20, a conduit 25 adapted tocommunicate between a blower 35 and chamber 20, a height adjustmentmechanism 30, a connecting assembly 18, and a wheel assembly 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, frame 16 is generally a rectangular frame formedfrom four horizontally extending lengths of square tubing 40 a-d, threevertically extending wheel posts 41 a-c, a vertically extending cornerpost 42 and two vertically extending attachment posts 43 a and 43 b. Asshown, frame 16 includes or is connected to a wheel assembly 32, adaptedto allow for attachment 15 to roll behind blower 35, a blower connectingassembly 18, adapted to releasably connect the front of attachment 15 tothe rear of blower 35, and a height adjustment mechanism 30, adapted toallow for the height of outlet 29 above the surface over whichattachment 15 rolls to be moved up and down.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, assembly 18 comprises two square tubular dragarms 46 a and 46 b that are pivotally connected at pivot connections 45a and 45 b to attachment posts 43 a and 43 b, respectively, of frame 16.The other ends of drag arms 46 a and 46 b are in turn pivotallyconnected at pivot connections 45 c and 45 d to cross-bar 46. Theconnections employ a bronze type bushing with grease fittings,connecting pins, keeper bolts and washers. As shown in FIG. 1, mountingplate 44 is bolted to the rear crosspiece of the frame of blower 35.Mounting plate 44 includes a connecting bolt 49 welded to the center ofmounting plate 44. Cross-bar 46 contains a mounting through-bore 48adapted to receive bolt 49. Attachment 15 is connected to blower 35 bymoving it so that bolt 49 extends through through-bore 48. The endportion of bolt 49 extends through the other side of bore 48 andincludes a hole. A lynch style pin and machined washer, the pinextending through the hole at the end of bolt 49, holds cross-plate 48of frame 16 to mounting plate 44 on blower 35. With pivot connects 45a-d at both ends of drag arms 46 a and 46 b, attachment 15 can be pulledbehind blower 35 such that it will not be lifted from the surface 38over which is rolling. This pivoting connection allows for attachment 15to roll behind blower 35 over undulating surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, frame 16 is connected to or includes a wheelassembly 32 and a height adjustment mechanism 30 that interacts withwheel assembly 32 to allow for housing 19 and chamber 20 to be held atdifferent heights above the surface 38 over which attachment 15 rolls.As shown, wheel assembly 32 comprises three caster wheels 51 a-cconnected to tubes 66 and 67 adjacent wheel post 41 a-c, respectively.Wheels 51 a-c are rotationally connected to forks 52 a-c, each of whichhas a shaft 53 a-c, respectively, extending into blocks 54 a-c,respectively. Blocks 54 a-c each house a greased brass bushing and awasher and bolt are used to hold each of shafts 54 a-c in place. As aresult of this arrangement, wheels 51 a-c can freely rotate about thevertical axis of shafts 53 a-c. As shown, attachment 15 as two frontwheels 51 a and 51 b positioned near the right and left edge,respectively, of frame 16, and a single rear wheel 51 c positioned atthe center line of frame 16. Blower attachment 15 is generally supportedon three wheels 51 a-c and is balanced between them. Two additionalsafety rollers 78 a and 78 b are attached on either side of frame 16near the rear of frame elements 40 a and 40 c, respectively. These tworollers help prevent the scalping of the turf or surface when attachment15 is used on undulating surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, adjustment mechanism 30 interacts withwheel assembly 32 to allow for the height adjustment of frame 16 andhousing 19 with respect to the surface over which blower attachment 15rolls. Adjustment mechanism 30 includes an adjustment arm 56 whichextends vertically from the middle of the right side of frame 16, namelyelement 40 a, and which is connected to side panel 23 a of housing 19.As shown, adjustment arm 56 includes a spring loaded lift rod 57 whichhas a horizontally extending top portion, a vertically extending middleportion and a horizontally extending locking pin 60. Locking pin 60extends through a hole in adjustment arm 56. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,adjustment plate 58 includes seven location slots 59 orientated in aradial arc across the top of adjustment plate 58. This orientationallows for a user to raise rod 57, causing locking pin 60 to disengagefrom a location slot 59, and thereby allow arm 56 to be moved forward orbackwards about pivot 61. When arm 56 is at the desired location, eitherforward or backward, bar 57 may be released such that locking pin 60falls back into the corresponding location slot 59 in adjustment plate58, thereby locking arm 56 at the desired radial position relative topivot point 61.

As shown, two pivoting linkages 62 and 63 extend from either side ofadjustment arm 56. Linkage 62 extends from a point above pivot 61 toconnect with transversely extending tube 66 at the front of housing 19,and linkage 63 extends from a point below pivot 61 to connect withtransversely extending tube 67 at the rear of housing 19. Tube 66 inturn connects with both front wheel blocks 54 a and 54 b, and tube 67connects with rear wheel block 54 c. As shown, linkages 62 and 63 pivotfreely at both their ends. Clevis plates 68 a-b are fixed at rightangles on one end to the respective ends of tubes 66 and 67, and arepivotally connected at the other end to linkages 62 and 63,respectively. Tube 66 extends rotatably through both front wheel posts41 a and 41 b and rotates in slot or rod support bracket 55 a and 55 bin wheel posts 41 a and 41 b, respectively. Similarly, rod 67 rotates inslot or rod support bracket 41 d in the top of corner post 42 and asupport bracket 41 c in wheel post 41 c. One end of two attachmentplates 69 a and 69 b are fixably attached to tube 66 on either side ofpost 41 a, and the other end of plates 69 a and 69 b are fixablyattached to wheel block 54 a. Similarly, wheel block 54 b is fixablyconnected to one end of plates 70 a and 70 b. The other end of plates 70a and 70 b are fixed to tube 66 on either side of wheel post 41 b. Thus,any rotation of tube 66 about the longitudinal axis of tube 66 willcause a similar rotation of wheels 51 a and 51 b, thereby causing wheels51 a and 51 b to simultaneously move up or down, depending on thedirection of rotation of tube 66, relative to frame 16. Similarly, theends of two plates 71 a and 71 b are fixed to tube 67 on each side ofwheel tower 41 c and are fixed at their other ends to wheel block 54 c.Thus, rotation of tube 67 about its longitudinal axis will cause wheel51 c to either move up or down, depending on the direction of suchrotation, relative to housing frame 16. This mechanical assembly allowsfor the height of frame 16, and therefore the height of outlet 29, abovethe ground to be adjusted. By raising rod 57 and moving arm 56 forwardand counterclockwise with respect to pivot point 61, linkage 62/68 acauses tube 66 to also rotate in a counterclockwise direction, andlinkage 63/68 b causes tube 67 to rotate in a clockwise direction, whichin turn causes wheels 51 a and 51 b to move down relative to frame 16and causes wheel 51 c to move down relative to frame 16, thereby raisingframe 16 and housing 19 further above the ground. When housing 19 is atthe desired height above the ground, rod 57 is released and locking pin61 allowed to engage the desired slot 59, thereby suspending the housingon wheels 51 a-c at a greater height above the ground. To have housing19 at the greatest height above the ground, locking pin 60 is adjustedto engage slot 59 a. Alternatively, arm 56 may be rotated clockwiseabout pivot point 61 to raise wheels 51 a-c relative to frame 16 andthereby lower chamber 20 relative to the ground over which it isrolling. To have housing 19 at its lowest height above the surface,locking pin 60 is adjusted to fit into the slot opposite of slot 59 a.Thus, the height of blower attachment 15 over the ground may be manuallyadjusted independent of blower 35. Height adjustment mechanism 30 allowsfor the user to regulate the amount of contact and compression brushes31 will have on the turf surface, and to regulate the force of the airstream from outlet 29 on the turf surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, frame 16 supports housing 19. Housing 19comprises a horizontally extending planar top portion 21, verticallyextending side portions 23 a-d and a horizontally extending planarbottom portion 22. Top portion 21 is formed from sheet metal, the endsof which are folded over at right angles to form front side portion 23 band rear side portion 23 d. Right side portion 23 a and left sideportion 23 c are in turn welded to the respective edges of top portion21, front side portion 23 b and rear side portion 23 d. These portionsthereby form the top and sides of housing 19. Bottom portion 22 ofhousing 19 is generally a flat planar member recessed such that itextends between and is welded at one end to the inner surface of sideportion 23 a and at the other end to the inner surface of side portion23 c. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, side portions 23 a-c extend below thebottom surface of bottom portion 22. Top portion 21, side portions 23a-d and bottom portion 22 define chamber 20.

As also shown in FIG. 4, bottom portion 22 is not as wide as the widthsof side portions 23 a and 23 c or of top portion 21. Thus, a narrowspace 29 a is formed at the front of attachment 15 that extends alongalmost the whole width of attachment 15 between the inner surface offront side portion 23 b and the front edge of bottom portion 22.Similarly, a narrow space 29 b is formed at the rear of attachment 15that extends almost the whole width of attachment 15 between the innersurface of rear side portion 23 d and the rear edge of bottom portion22. These spaces form outlet 29 to chamber 20. In the preferredembodiment, each of outlets 29 a-b have a width 72 of about 1.5 inchesand a length 73 of about 60 inches.

Inlet 24 is generally cut into the center of top portion 21 of housing19. As shown, a cylindrical lip 33 extends perpendicular to top portion21 around the circumference of inlet 24. In the preferred embodiment,inlet 24 is a circular inlet having a width or diameter 34 of about 14inches. A number of baffles or vanes are welded to extend from belowinlet 24 towards the peripheral edge of bottom member 22. As shown,baffles 26 a-h extend from a point 27 a-d that is below inlet 24 to apoint 28 a-h that is outside the imaginary vertical projection of inlet24 on bottom portion 22 of housing 19. Thus baffles 26 a-h extend on theinner surface of top portion 21 beyond the diameter 34 of inlet 24. Inthe preferred embodiment, the baffles extend vertically and aregenerally V-shaped such that the bottom point of the V is below inlet 24at locations 27 a-d. The other ends of the baffles are directed out in agenerally radial fashion to direct airflow 79 from below inlet 24 to theperipheral edges of housing 19 and particularly towards outlets 29 a and29 b. Baffles 26 extend vertically between the inner surface of topportion 21 and the inner surface of bottom portion 22. In this way, airblown through inlet 24 is directed throughout chamber 20 and towardsoutlets 29 a and 29 b. This allows for turbulation of the air and forchanging an air stream that had a generally cylindrical diameter of 34as it entered inlet 24 to be split and changed by the orientation ofbaffles 26 and chamber 20 into two separate air streams 79 that aregenerally rectangular having a width 72 and a length 73 that issubsequently greater than diameter 34. In this way, the air stream fromthe blower may be directed and adapted to be felt along a surface of agreater width than the diameter of the outlet 36 of blower 35. Inaddition, the flow is agitated so that it is better able to direct sandinto aeration holes in a grass surface.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6, a containment skirt 31 is providedalong the underside of each of frame elements 40 a-d. In the preferredembodiment, containment skirt 41 is made of three inch long flexiblenylon fibers of a brush-like quality. The fibers are held in a plastictrack and the bottom of each of frame elements 40 a-d are provided witha welded channel into which the plastic track of skirts 31 a-d are slidand held in place. Skirt 31 helps contain the airflow 79 from outlet 29a and 29 b and direct it into the surface. Also, by using flexible nylonbrushes, less damage and scouring occurs when the brush drags on thesurface. The use of flexible fibers and airflow 79 from outlet 29 a and29 b to direct sand into the aeration holes is less abrasive and lessdamaging to the grass surface being treated. This helps acceleraterecovery of the grass or green after treatment.

Attachment 15 is adapted to be used with powerful blowers. For example,it is contemplated that attachment 15 may be used with a blower havingan output of 10,000 cubic feet of air at 175 miles per hour.Accordingly, conduit 25 between outlet 36 of blower 35 and inlet 24 ofattachment 15 is designed to contain the larger forces associated withthe strong air stream output from blower 35. In the preferredembodiment, air conduit 35 includes a fourteen inch diameter cylindricalflexible reinforced tube 74, an elbow segment 76 and an elbow segment77. One end of tube 74 is attached to outlet 36 of blower 35. Outlet 36includes an elbow base with a flange. Flexible tubing 74 slides over aring with a mating flange. The mating flange on the end of tubing 74 andthe flange on outlet 36 of blower 35 provide a face-to-face connectionand abut each other. A connecting clamp 75 overlaps the two flanges andthe band of the clamp is tightened to hold the joint together. The otherend of flexible tubing 74 is connected to one end of elbow segment 76.Again, this end of tubing 74 includes a mating flange which abuts aflange on elbow segment 76. A connecting clamp overlaps the two flangesand the band of the clamp is tightened to hold the joint together.Similarly, the ends of elbow segments 76 and 77 are connected with aconnecting belt clamp. The other end of elbow segment 77 is connected tolip 33 of inlet 24. A flange around the end of elbow segment 77 isabutted to the flange or lip 33 of inlet 24. These flanges arereleasably attached with a clamp band which is tightened to hold thejoint together. Elbow segments 76 and 77 allow for the horizontalairflow from blower 35 to be directed vertically into inlet 24, therebycreating a 90 degree turn. Flexible tubing 74 permits some play in theair conduit 25 between blower 35 and attachment 15. This preventsconduit 25 from detaching from blower 35 or attachment 15 whenattachment 15 moves up or down relative to blower 35 when it is beingpulled behind blower 35.

Thus, airflow generated by blower 35 is directed through air conduit 25and through inlet 24. Baffles 26 direct the airflow 79 and disperse itin chamber 20 and then out through outlets 29 a and 29 b along the frontbottom edge of chamber 20 and along the rear bottom edge of chamber 20.Skirt 31 helps contain a good portion of the airflow as well as sand orother materials being applied to the surface. The amount of airflow thatis generated is controlled by the blower. The blower may itself have athrottle control or the throttle control may be on the tractor used topropel the blower if it is a PTO driven model. The height of the blowerattachment over the surface may also be adjusted to control the impactof the airflow on the surface.

Blower attachment 15 may be used for many purposes, including afteraeration and the top dressing of a putting green. For such anapplication, attachment 15 is attached to a blower which is started andmoved into position to begin filling the aeration holes. The height ofattachment 15 and the throttle of blower 35 is adjusted to theconditions and size of the holes on the green. The towing vehicle ortractor pulling the blower and in turn attachment 15 is then driven overthe prepared green. Multiple passes may be needed to fill the holes witha top dressing of sand or related material if desired. By usingattachment 15, a wide swath and more area may be covered. And by usingairflow to direct the top dressing into aeration holes or into thesurface, less damage may be done, which accelerates recovery of thegreen after aeration and treatment.

The present invention contemplates that many changes and modificationsmay be made. Therefore, while the presently-preferred form of theattachment has been shown and described, and several alternativemodifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art willreadily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as definedand differentiated by the following claims.

1. A blower attachment comprising: a frame having a connecting assemblyfor releasably connecting to a blower; a housing supported by said frameand enclosing a chamber; said housing having a top portion, a bottomportion and side portions; an inlet to said chamber in said top portionof said housing; said inlet having a maximum inlet width; a conduitadapted to extend between said inlet and a blower outlet port; multiplebaffles in said chamber oriented substantially vertically and extendingfrom a first point below said inlet to a second point peripheral to saidinlet; an outlet from said chamber having a maximum outlet width greaterthan the maximum inlet width; said conduit, inlet, chamber, baffles andoutlet adapted to direct airflow from an attached blower through saidinlet into said chamber and out said outlet against an underlyingsurface.
 2. The blower attachment set forth in claim 1, and furthercomprising an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust the height of saidoutlet relative to said underlying surface.
 3. The blower attachment setforth in claim 1, and further comprising a containment skirt extendingbelow and around at least a portion of the peripheral edge of saidoutlet.
 4. The blower attachment set forth in claim 3, wherein saidcontainment skirt comprises flexible fibers adapted to brush saidunderlying surface.